Improvement in grave-guards and tomb-stones



M.BECKLER. Grave-Guard and Tomb-Stone.

No. 216,500. Patented Ju n-e17,1879'.

.Ltiest. Inventdr.

dzw/fiwag UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL BEGKLER, OF OHEVIOT, OHIO.

lMPROVEMENT IN GRAVE-GUARDS AND TOMB-STONES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,500, dated June 17, 1879; application filed December 11, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL BECKLER,

-of the town of Cheviot, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGr-ave- Guards and Tomb-Stones, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object the protection of grave-mounds, and the providing of means for identification and marking of the same, without the necessity of using tombstones or monuments, such as are ordinarily used.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of same; and Figs. 3, 4., and 5 are sectional views showing different methods of attaching and holding in position plates bearing inscriptions, such as may be desired.

My invention may be made of stone, marble, iron, or other metal, but is preferably made of zinc, which is not liable to be broken; neither does it rust or corrode from exposure to the weather. When constructed in the shape shown in the drawings,it forms a guard that is pleasing to the eye, and at the same time one that will protect and preserve the shape of the mound within.

The shape or form of my invention is preferably as follows, viz: The head end should be slightly wider than the foot end, as shown in Fig. 2, and the corners rounded and sunken, as at A, and the height is preferably somewhat greater at either end than in the middle. The base or lower portion of the sides and ends extends perpendicularly upward for a short distance, and then inclines toward the center of the guard at an angle less than ninety degrees. The ends are composed of plane surfaces for appropriate inscriptions. These surfaces, standing at an angle with a perpendicular line, present the inscription to the eye of the observer in the best possible position for reading.

The sides are composed of plane surfaces 3 and concave surfaces 0. These plane surfaces, as well as the plane surfaces at either end, may be used for inscriptions, or an inscription-plate may be attached to the top of the guard, extending from side to side, at either end, as shown by the dotted line a, Fig.

2. In this case the plate will lie horizontal, the inscription looking upward.

Other methods of using inscription-plates are represented by dotted lines a. and a Fig.1. a represents a plate placed on the inner side of the guard, looking toward the opposite end. (t represents a plate bolted to the outer side of the guard.

In case the guard is made of stone, or marble, or metal, the inscription may be cut or engraved directly upon it, or otherwise marked thereon.

If the guard be made of cast-iron or zinc, the lettering may be cast solid with the body of the guard or sand-blasted on after the guard is cast.

A very desirable and beautiful inscriptionplate which I propose using in connection with my grave-guard is made of ruby glass.

This is a glass each side of which is of a (litferent color-as one red and one white. The inscription to be used is ground into one side of the glass in such a manner that the colorsay, the red-is ground away, making the letter appear as white upon a red ground. This has a very pleasing effect.

In using this or other kinds of separate inscription-plates means must be PI'OVIdOd for retaining the plate in position. Some of the different ways of accomplishing this are shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

In Fig. 3 a recess or cavity is left in the grave-guard, in which the plate is placed, and secured by cement.

In Fig. 4 the edges of the plate are beveled, leaving the longest edge on the under side of the plate, and the edges of the cavity left in the graveguard are oppositely beveled, so that when the plate is inserted from either side it is held in position.

In Fig. 5 one edge of the plate is inserted behind a flange, I), of the grave-guard, and the other edge of the plate abuts against a projection on the grave-guard. A screwbolt passed through the plate near the latter edge and into or through the grave-guard secures the plate firmly in position.

The open space in the middle of the graveguard allows the top of the grave-mound within to appear. The latter can be planted with flowers or shrubs, so as to increase the beauty and attractiveness of the grave. In this way those features of a garden which are most appropriate for the dwellings of dead are combined with my invention.

What I claim as new and of my invention 7 1. A grave-guard open at the top, the sides and ends of which form the basis for inscrip tion for identification of the grave, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with a grave-guard, an inscription-plate of ruby glass substantially as described. I

MICHAEL BECKLER.

Attest:

J. GILLIGAN, H. BOSWORTH. 

